Souped-Up Ford

Maybe people will believe John Ford from now on.

Last week at this time, the Littlerock High tailback was telling friends and classmates they could count on him to score, oh, six or seven touchdowns in the Lobos’ opener against Etiwanda.

Six or seven? Touchdowns?

That’s pretty confident stuff for a junior with one varsity start on his resume, a start that featured three fumbles and no touchdowns.

“I was serious,” Ford said of the prediction. “I even bet [a friend] I would do it.”

Then he did it.

The 6-2, 195-pound Ford rushed for 262 yards and six touchdowns in 33 carries to lead Littlerock to a 40-34 victory.

For those outside the Antelope Valley, Ford’s was anything but a household name.

But Golden League rivals knew he was coming.

They caught glimpses of the fast, powerful runner last season, when he was an understudy to Rodney Woods, an All-Valley running back who rushed for more than 1,500 yards.

At first, Coach Jim Bauer was reluctant to carry a sophomore just to be a varsity reserve.

He learned, however, that Ford wasn’t going to get much better playing against junior varsity competition. In one game, Ford carried three times. He scored three touchdowns.

So Ford stayed with the varsity, rushing for 273 yards and two touchdowns in 32 carries.

He insists he didn’t mind paying his dues.

“It didn’t bother me at all,” he said. “I knew I’d have my chance.”

Ford’s performance last week was a bit of good news for a program and community that was staggered this summer when a teenager died after a fight outside a party.

Woods, who had graduated, quarterback Richard Newton and fullback-linebacker Marcus Raines, the team’s top returning players, were arrested and charged in the death.

With results expected any day from an independent investigation into how school personnel handled the situation, the program is trying to move on. On the field, at least, things are back to normal.

The Lobos have the same philosophy, the same run-oriented power pitch offense and another breakout back to follow 1,000-yard rushers Lafayette Bailey, Devon Reese, and Michael and Rodney Woods.

“It’s intimidating at times,” Ford said. “I have to keep doing what I’m doing if I want to keep up that kind of tradition.”

He’s not going to stay on a 60-touchdown pace, but Littlerock coaches believe Ford will at least claim his place on that list.

“We have a system that allows the tailback to be the man, much like Hart’s system is designed to spotlight the quarterback,” offensive coordinator Vince Lipari said. “We’ve been blessed with some outstanding talent at tailback over the years and John Ford is very talented as well.”

There’s no telling how good Ford can be by the time he is finished at Littlerock.

“He’s got the potential to be playing on television every week,” Bauer said. “But potential is a French word that means, ‘You haven’t done anything yet.’ He’s taken one step, but he’s still a baby. A big, fast baby.”

That’s why when Littlerock players took the field for practice on Monday, Bauer made sure his young tailback’s head hadn’t swelled.

“I just want him to keep his feet on the ground and continue to do what he’s supposed to do,” Bauer said. “I’m not going to give him an inch.”

It didn’t take long for Ford to figure that out.

“He was hollering so much [Monday] that I got a headache,” Ford said. “He was just making sure I didn’t get big-headed, that I stay cool and calm and focus on the future instead of the past.”

Which brings us to Ford’s prediction for Littlerock’s game Friday night against Silverado.

Will he break Rodney Woods’ school record of 327 yards rushing in a game? Eight or nine touchdowns?

“I told everybody I wasn’t going to play this week,” he said with a laugh. “I was just kidding. . . “

*

* SEE PIGSKIN PROPHECIES, PAGE 14.